Authority Over Nature

As Jesus was alone in prayer, the disciples decided to cross the Sea of Galilee. Experienced fishermen, they were confident. But when a violent storm arose, they felt they were in mortal danger. Battling for their lives, they were startled to see Jesus approaching them, walking on the water. He spoke and calmed their fears.

Then something extraordinary happened. As He entered the boat, “the wind stopped.” As Mark recorded the event, Jesus didn’t speak a word or seem to do anything special.

They were “utterly astonished.” The Greek word here suggests that they felt beside themselves. They had seen how Jesus simply had authority over the forces of nature—every demon, every disease, everything in Heaven and on earth.

The disciples had just experienced the feeding of the 5,000, but they hadn’t fully grasped the significance of that miracle. In fact, “their hearts had grown callous [had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]” (AMP). Now, as Jesus walked on water and stilled the storm, their eyes were opened in new ways!

How easy it can be for us to be like the disciples—sailing through life, caught up in our own concerns, focused on ourselves. We, too, can become complacent about our relationship with Jesus. We can fail to grasp all that He’s made available to us, not realizing that He is with us in every situation, that His presence alone brings peace, that He is present with His full authority and power.

Today, don’t allow your heart to be hardened. Remember: Jesus is “in the boat” with you. Trust in Him. Believe that nothing is impossible.